I thought I would hate cruises, but Royal Caribbean’s Symphony of the Seas changed my mind.
Although I travel frequently with my children, I had never considered a cruise. I knew, of course, how popular cruises are with families, but I wasn’t sold on the idea of being stuck on a ship, no matter how big. When I learned that Royal Caribbean Symphony of the Seas Having just started sailing from Bayonne, New Jersey, just outside of New York, I decided to finally take the plunge with my two youngest children. The new route meant we could access the ship by driving about four hours from my home in Washington, DC.
As we approached the port, I was still worried that my kids and I would be bored after a week on a boat. I remembered how much I enjoyed my first trip to an all-inclusive resort despite similar concerns, and hoped for the best. Today I am happy to report that the cruise was a huge success. Here’s why I changed my tune on the cruise.
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There’s plenty to do on Royal Caribbean’s Symphony of the Seas
My fears of being bored evaporated as soon as I saw all the activities available on board. In addition to several swimming pools and hot tubs, Symphony of the Seas also features a mini-golf course, zip line, ice rink, laser tag, rock climbing, FlowRider simulated surfer, carousel, huge slide 10 floors, with films and evening shows and a sports terrace, just for entrances.
My kids found some fun touches while walking around, including a musical staircase that plays different notes with each step. One day, we met a pianist in an elevator. The ship also hosts special events, including an event with carnival games that my kids enjoyed. There was a good mix of organized activities, such as kids’ soccer matches and teen-only ice skating sessions, as well as downtime.
Our guest room wasn’t huge, but it was more than enough
My children and I shared a cabin with a balcony. Although the room wasn’t huge, it was big enough for the three of us. The room was neatly arranged, giving us plenty of space for all of our belongings. My son called the balcony “life changing” as he watched the waves of the Atlantic Ocean.
I enjoyed sitting on the balcony in the evening after the kids went to sleep. On my next cruise I would like to have a balcony again, but that wouldn’t be a problem if I could only afford an interior room since we weren’t spending a lot of time there.
Dinner was a highlight
Cruise ships are known for their generous buffets. Although I wasn’t sure what to expect in terms of quality, I expected a good variety. Fortunately, the buffet on board Symphony of the Seas was both quality and delicious. My kids and I enjoyed the avocado toast for breakfast and the salads and pastas for lunch and dinner.
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My favorite restaurant on the ship was the Solarium Bistro offering Mediterranean dishes, available to all passengers at no extra cost. We also opted for a few upscale restaurants that cost a bit more. Eating at Wonderland, a whimsical Alice in Wonderland-themed restaurant, was a magical experience that I highly recommend to anyone with children. We also had a meal at Jamie Oliver’s restaurant, Jamie’s Italian, which was a fantastic feast.
My children and I also each received an unlimited drinks package. A drinks package is not essential as drinks are served with meals and coffee, water and tea are available all day. However, it was nice to be able to get unlimited mocktails, craft coffees, and milkshakes. One of the highlights was ordering personalized drinks created by a robot. I will probably get the drink package again.
Shore Excursions
The new Symphony of the Seas the route from New Jersey includes three stops. We booked excursions to two stops (Port Canaveral, Florida and Nassau, Bahamas). In Port Canaveral, we visited Gatorland. There were tons of other options, including visiting the Kennedy Space Center, going to Universal Studios or Disney World, and much more.
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In the Bahamas, we took a jeep tour to visit the historic sites and downtown Nassau. We also explored the upscale harbor. Just like in Florida, there are plenty of options, including a day at the beach and a visit to Atlantis, home to a legendary water park.
Perfect day at CocoCay
Our third stop on Symphony of the Seas was on Royal Carribean’s private island, Perfect Day at CocoCay, which is also in the Bahamas. My kids and I splurged at the island’s Thrill Water Park, which has a huge wave pool, huge water slides, and more. We also spent a few hours on one of the island’s beautiful beaches.
The perfect day at CocoCay was beautiful and we had plenty of food and drinks included. It was truly a perfect day! For those wanting more adventure, other activities, such as a glass-bottom boat ride and swimming with pigs, are available on the island.
Royal Caribbean Teen Club and Kids Club
While a big part of a family vacation is of course spending time with family, it’s also nice to spend some time apart. I often travel alone with my children and I don’t always have free time alone, which is stressful for me. Royal Caribbean is known for its fantastic kids’ clubs and this was a huge draw for my kids and me.
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The first evening we were on board, my 13-year-old daughter went to a teen playdate and quickly made a group of friends with whom she still stays in touch months after our sailing. My nine-year-old son was thrilled with the kids’ club where he played games, did art projects, and conducted science experiments. He loved the kids’ club so much that he was upset every time he saw me arriving to pick him up.
At the end of the trip, I wished my kids would spend more time with me, but I was happy to see them having fun and used some of the time I had alone to enjoy the reserved part to adults on the ship. .
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